I recently took up Bazzite from mint and I love it! After using it for a few days I found out it was an immutable distro, after looking into what that is I thought it was a great idea. I love the idea of getting a fresh image for every update, I think for businesses/ less tech savvy people it adds another layer of protection from self harm because you can’t mess with the root without extra steps.

For anyone who isn’t familiar with immutable distros I attached a picture of mutable vs immutable, I don’t want to describe it because I am still learning.

My question is: what does the community think of it?

Do the downsides outweigh the benefits or vice versa?

Could this help Linux reach more mainstream audiences?

Any other input would be appreciated!

  • priapusEnglish
    1·
    22 hours ago

    Because it improves security and privacy, something they can advertise as a feature. There’s no negative for them to implement, it’s their phone, they can already collect all the data they want. It still prevents other apps from accessing data they shouldn’t.

    Why do you think phone makers push it? What possible malicious reason do you think proprietary software makers have to push containerization and sandboxing? What do they gain?

    • ubergeek@lemmy.todayEnglish
      1·
      22 hours ago

      Correct about security. Unable to inspect the code running, unable to control your own device fully, and really secure at keeping the user out of their hardware.

      And for apps shipped in containers? No need to be a part of the FLOSS community, because you can easily ship software to your users that provides no freedoms.

      • priapusEnglish
        11·
        20 hours ago

        Those things have nothing to do with containerization. They can do those things without it. Containerization exists to improve privacy and security. It can do the same thing on Linux.

        Even if you trust an app, it can have vulnerabilities you are unaware of. Containerization helps limit the effects damage from a vulnerability could have. They also simplify the distribution of software, which is the primary goal of Flatpak. There are benefits for using containers for open source software, you’re just refusing to acknowledge them. Nobody is forcing you to use containerization, and I don’t care to convince you to. I just think acting like Flatpak and other container based package formats is some corporate conspiracy is silly. Flatpak is FOSS and mainly distributes FOSS.